MASQUERADE

I. noun Etymology: Middle French, from Old Italian dialect mascarada, from Old Italian maschera mask Date: 1587 1. a social gathering of persons wearing masks and often fantastic costumes, a costume for wear at such a gathering, an action or appearance that is mere disguise or show, II. intransitive verb (-aded; -ading) Date: 1677 1. to disguise oneself, to take part in a ~, to assume the appearance of something one is not, ~r noun